News - August 2025 RSS Feed

The town of Danbury in Woodbury County has approximately 315 residents while the Danbury Catholic School has 63 students. Thanks to a generous community, big things are happening in the small elementary school from six-figure improvement projects to homemade meals.

Heidi Probasco of North Sioux City, South Dakota, has been hired as diocesan director of the Office of Stewardship and Development. She started her position Aug. 18 and said she is anxious to travel to meet the faithful throughout the Diocese of Sioux City. “I love interacting with people and getting to know them on a more personal level,” she said. “I love talking to people and being able to be of assistance to them.”

The Sisters of Saint Francis, Dubuque, were among more than 100 religious organizations and individuals throughout the United States to submit art, prayers, poems, reflections, meditations, liturgies, music, videos and youth/adult programs to Catholic Climate Covenant. The sisters’ material is included in a new resource called Spreading Seeds of Peace and Hope for Creation that gives parishes and individuals assistance in their efforts to care for the environment.

Although the Msgr. Lafferty Tuition Foundation has provided scholarships for many years for Catholic school families, the program remains crucial for families trying to finance a Catholic education. The new fundraising year for MLTF is well underway, offering 75% State of Iowa tax credits for donors.

Bishop John Keehner's homily for the 21st Sunday in Ordinary Time 2025 reflects upon the readings that weekend and ties in the pastoral reflection from the four Iowa Bishops released Aug. 22. He urges the faithful to "allow our faith to influence how we live, how we see others and how we treat them..."

Bishop John Keehner blessed the new tabernacle and by association, rededicated the chapel at the Mary's Choice family planning center. He celebrated a Mass on the feast of St. Monica as part of the event. Board members, volunteers and supporters attended.

(bilingual) Bishop John E. Keehner of the Diocese of Sioux City released a bilingual statement regarding the shooting at a school in neighboring Minnesota earlier this morning.

On the 20th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, the faithful are encouraged to renew their commit to racial equality and justice by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.

Recognizing the financial pressures facing homeschool families, Briar Cliff University has expanded its partnership with TEL Education to provide homeschool students throughout the Midwest with an on-demand, affordable pathway to college success. The Briar Cliff University Courses On-Demand program offers regionally accredited college courses at just $100 per credit hour – approximately half the cost of online alternatives.

August 22—The Memorial of the Queenship of Mary—A Reflection by Bishop Keehner A year ago, I began a three month sabbatical by serving as chaplain to a group of pilgrims visiting the shrines of France, Spain and Portugal. On this date in particular, August 22, I celebrated with them, in a side chapel at the Basilica in Lourdes, today’s Memorial of the Queenship of Mary. And while this date will forever hold a special place in my heart for that reason, what I found especially memorable, even “electrifying”, was the Rosary procession which took place the evening before.

(bilingual) The four Catholic bishops of Iowa, through the Iowa Catholic Conference, have released a pastoral reflection on the Church’s teaching on immigration and the dignity of the human person. Entitled “Pilgrims of Hope: A Pastoral Reflection on Immigration,” the letter asks the People of God to uphold the dignity of the human person, created in the image and likeness of God, “by welcoming the stranger, defending the oppressed, and standing in solidarity with those who are displaced.” Los cuatro obispos Católicos de Iowa, a través de la Conferencia Católica de Iowa, han publicado una reflexión pastoral sobre la enseñanza de la Iglesia acerca de inmigración y la dignidad de la persona humana. Titulada “Peregrinos de Esperanza: Una Reflexión Pastoral sobre Inmigración”, la carta pide al Pueblo de Dios que defienda la dignidad de la persona humana, creada a imagen y semejanza de Dios, “acogiendo al extranjero, defendiendo al oprimido y solidarizándose con los desplazados”.

(CNS) Pope Leo XIV asked Catholics to observe Aug. 22 as a day of prayer and fasting for peace and justice, particularly in Ukraine and in the Holy Land.

Bishop John Keehner celebrated Mass at Storm Lake St. Mary on Aug. 16 and installed the four permanent deacon candidates to the ministry of acolyte.

Briar Cliff University is proud to announce it has reached its initial Celebration Goal of $10,000,000 in the Foundations for the Future Comprehensive Campaign. Now stretching its goal to $12,000,000, the campaign focuses on enhancing affordability, improving the on-campus student experience, and securing Briar Cliff’s position as the most affordable private university in the tri-state region.

With a storied 16-year career of coaching men’s basketball at the collegiate level, Storm Lake native Ben McCollum was hired last April as the 23rd head men’s basketball coach for the University of Iowa. He had a record of 426-95 – the “fifth best all-time among collegiate men’s basketball coaches,” according to the University of Iowa sports website. McCollum garnered numerous awards in his years coaching including NABC Division II coach of the year in 2017, 2019-22 and four NCAA Division II championships coaching Northwest Missouri State University.

In the 65 years since Bishop Garrigan Schools of Algona first opened, the school system has experienced many firsts. On Aug. 28, the school will have another first when it officially establishes the Bishop Garrigan Athletics Hall of Fame and the first inductees are honored. According to John Kesselring, Bishop Garrigan PreK-6 principal and high school football coach, he was having conversations about a hall of fame with fellow teacher and coach Brian Patterson whose father had previously served as an athletic director.